The government confirmed the death of this Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee, who was still under investigation.
Sweden is reeling from the news of the death of a high-ranking diplomat who had been arrested over the weekend in Stockholm on suspicion of espionage. Local media reported on Friday that the Swedish diplomat, whose identity has not been disclosed, had been interrogated and later released, although he remained under investigation.
The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of this member of the foreign service, expressing condolences to the deceased’s family, friends, and colleagues. No further details were given due to privacy concerns.
The arrest was first announced on Monday by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), but no information was provided about the case or the suspect’s identity. The SVT news channel reported the next day that the person detained was a senior diplomat. Despite being released on Wednesday, he continued to be considered a suspect, according to prosecutors. Reports by the Expressen newspaper indicated that the deceased was the same individual who had been detained on suspicion of espionage.
Stockholm police told AFP that an investigation into the death had been opened, although foul play is not suspected. They did not confirm whether the deceased was the same person arrested for espionage, as the investigation is being handled by Säpo. Säpo spokesperson Gabriel Wernstedt stated that “the investigation into the suspected espionage is ongoing, although the suspect can no longer be investigated.”
The diplomat’s lawyer, Anton Strand, told AFP that his client had denied all accusations and maintained “he had done nothing wrong.” Moreover, after his release, the diplomat sought medical attention for injuries and filed a complaint against the police for excessive use of force during his arrest.
SVT reported that Säpo was investigating a possible link between the diplomat’s case and the sudden resignation of Tobias Thyberg, Sweden’s national security advisor. Thyberg resigned just hours after taking office following the anonymous release of compromising photos of him on the dating app Grindr. However, SVT clarified that the person arrested was not Thyberg.
Former Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described the “tragically deceased ambassador” as an exceptionally gifted and competent individual who had served in various roles within the ministry. Reports suggest that he had spent extended periods outside Europe, most recently as an ambassador. Strand did not confirm whether the deceased held ambassadorial rank.
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